Ottawa
city council has approved the use of photo radar, but
only in school zones and only as a pilot project.

The
motion was introduced by River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington
who wanted the city to have the option of using photo
radar as a traffic calming measure on streets that have
a chronic and ongoing problem with speeders such as Meadowlands
Drive in the west end and Princess Louise Drive, Bottriel
Way and Viseneau Drive in the east end.

Brockingtons
motion had to be restricted to school zones in order to
secure the support of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson who is against
the general use of photo radar on city streets.

The
pilot project must still get approved by the province
which has the ultimate authority to okay the use of photo
radar
by municipalities. In this case, Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir
Naqvi has already voiced his support for the pilot project.

But
support for photo radar is by no means unanimous. Detractors
warn that the school zone pilot protect will merely open
the door to broader use in the future, and that photo
radar is nothing more than a cash grab.

That
is not Brockingtons intent, however.

My
intent has never been a cash grab, says the River
Ward Coun. Meadowlands is (just) one example of
hundreds of streets across the city, which is a residential
street on both sides, where speeding is a chronic, pervasive
issue. And we cant have the police on that street
because there are hundreds of Meadow-lands in this city
and (the city) has limited resource."

Watson
defended his softening on his early position against photo
radar in a letter to committee members.

I
believe this is a solid way forward for those who are
hesitant about a wide-scale rollout of photo radar on
streets where it may not be warranted; or for those who
are concerned with the tool being used as a limitless
revenue generating measure, wrote Watson who also
supported an amendment to Brocking-tons motion directing
proceeds generated by photo radar to go into road safety
projects.

Besides
the pilot project, city council also voted to lower the
speed limit on residential streets from 50km/hr to 40km/hr
where its not otherwise posted.